I have come to love Jenny Bayliss' writing and this splendid holiday romance is just another example of her fantastic writing and addicting stories. I love how this book was paced and how lovely the entire experience was. You will laugh and cry and fall in love with this story!

I really loved this novel. I love the fact that the heroine is not perfect and she is very relatable. It was a fun read and one that I think looks at the world in a beautiful way.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. I just reviewed Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like Jenny Bayliss

Thank you for the copy! This was definitely a little different than typical cozy Christmas rom coms. A lot more emotional than I was expecting and a lot to wrap your head around if reading to discuss as soon many topics are mentioned. That being said it did drag in some places and feel as if a checklist was being crossed off to include different topics because they were mentioned, but not thoroughly covered as part of the main storyline. I absolutely LOVED the setting and would have continued reading just for that and will continue to read books by this author as I enjoyed the writing style as well.

Such a fun holiday/Christmas themed read. Loved all of the characters. Especially the main heroine, Elinor aka Nory (which is such a cute nickname but the way). A two sides of the track love story which a wonderful happy ending. I found myself rooting hard for the couple. I did start out slow and took me awhile to get into it, but so glad I stuck with it. There is a bit of spice (which I like) and overall very cute story.

cover is super cute and premise of the novel was well put together. characters were a bit immature for me and i didn’t completely like the main conflicts in this novel but still a great holiday read.

cw: death of a friend, suicide, alcoholism, class issues, cheating

Nory is happy running her secondhand bookshop. She loves being around the books that have history to the point where she really struggles to let them go. When her friends invite her oldest friends to spend time at a castle in the time leading up to a wedding, it’s a good break, but also going to be emotional. The reunion brings up a lot. As Nory starts to form a bond with Isaac, the gardener, things only seem to get more complicated.

The title and the cover give the impression that this would be a holiday romance. It’s quick to unravel that and make it clear that it’s not the holiday romance it might seem to be. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a lot heavier than one might be expecting. It’s certainly not what I was expecting coming into it.

Nory has a large friend group which led to a lot of side stories. A lot of side stories that made it difficult to keep up with everyone and what was going on them from time to time. Beyond that, all the other things, death of a friend, suicide, alcoholism, class issues, cheating, is a lot to deal with in one book. I think having more of a focus would have done this book good. Whether it’s just between Isaac and Nory or even focusing on a few less deeper topics it might have gone a long way.

The pacing felt off. Between the side stories and everything the author was trying to fit into here, the story felt too long. There were moments when everything seemed all crammed together and others when nothing was happening.

Beyond all of that, for something with a cover and title like it has, there is a strong lack of holiday vibes that through me off for the whole story, but right now I don’t know if having more holiday vibes would have saved this book for me.

While I don’t think this was the book for me, I also don’t think it was a bad book. If you have liked the author’s other works and go into this knowing there is a lot of holiday vibes, then I say give it a chance!

"Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" by Jenny Bayliss is a heartwarming and delightful romance that captures the magic of the holiday season and the joy of unexpected connections. Bayliss' storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of love, second chances, and the warmth of Christmas spirit. The book's relatable characters and charming plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with fans of both romance and Christmas stories. Bayliss skillfully weaves together themes of family, community, and the power of love, adding layers of depth to the narrative. "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" is a tender reminder that the holidays have a way of bringing people together, leaving readers with a cozy and contented feeling as they immerse themselves in the characters' journey of love and holiday magic.

Don’t we all love cozy Christmas Romance? Under the Mistletoe was like an upgraded Hallmark movie to me. I love the main character, Elinor Noel- not just because she has the most holiday sounding name but more because she was a bookstore keeper! This holiday season will
be quite different for Elinor since she will be celebrating a friend getting married. The cheer of the blissful Christmas just got even better when that mistletoe will work its own magic for Elinor.
This was a fast read, perfect for the season paired with some hot coco or eggnog while snuggling by the fire under the blanket while carols are playing in the background!

Thank you Putnam Books via Netgalley for the e-arc for review.

This is a really cute book.
I was into it from the start. It was easy to get into. It did feel slow at some parts. The plot twist close to the end is what made it a 3 star read for me. I felt like there could have been more build up. I wanted a little more from this book.

Overall, a cute holiday read.

It’s not Christmas until I read a Jenny Bayliss novel. They’re as dependable as fresh snickerdoodles and cooler weather to get me in the holiday spirit.

The sweetest holiday book. Full of romance, best friendships, and’s a touch of miscommunication trope. I did, however, find myself skimming just abut near the end to get to the end. Loads of details for a sweet, rom-com - but can I fault the author for doing what she does best?! Absolutely recommend for a wintery, holiday read.

I did not like this book at first; I didn't understand the point of the story, where it was headed or what was was going to happen. I didn't care enough to find out. But then about halfway through, things start to pick up and the story developed.

Let me start off with the things I didn't like; I hated Isaac and I hated Nory's family. I was not a fan of the way they talked about others, I didn't like how they were so nasty and close minded about people who had more money than them. The way they blew off Nory's friends and how Nory's brother looked down upon his own sister, it really bothered me and almost ruined the book.

I hated it even more because Nory's friends weren't like that; they were welcoming and seemed like nice people.

My dislike of Isaac really affected how I saw him with Nory; I wasn't rooting for them nor did I want them to end up together. He made me uncomfortable and I just was a little weirded out by him.

On the other hand, I loved Nory's friends, I loved the bond they had and how they were just seamlessly in each other's lives, with their own language and traditions. It was so sweet and special and brought the entire story together. I loved hearing about their back stories and watching how they all flowed. It was beautiful.

The story didn't feel very Christmasy at first but then, when you get to the climax of the novel and things start moving fast, Christmas became a main character. The fact that this story took place in both London and the English countryside was very cozy, and having Nory be a bookshop owner was so cute. It gave her a little more personality.

All in all, I thought this was an adorable Christmas read with a great group of characters that was sweet and entertaining.

Overall, a feel-good Brit Chick Lit Christmas story with interesting and dynamic characters. I loved the author's previous Christmas boons,, so I was especially excited to read this one. It lived up to the challenge, though it was heavier in a few points than I anticipated - but not overly so. It allowed for well-developed characters that you gained a relationship with. A fantastic book by a fantastic author. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. .

Loved the story overall! Just a sweet and heartfelt story that’s perfect for the holidays. I loved how raw the characters were and it had such a great ending!

Man, this one hurts me to not love. I wanted to really enjoy this one as I love Bayliss 99.9% of the time. However, this story just didn't do it for me. I was bored more times than not. "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" was a bit more contemporary fiction and less romance, which I thought I was getting with the cover -- which I absolutely love BTW. That gets the all the stars. I do think the book was a bit busy -- lots of characters and tons of side plots -- which Isn't something I enjoy. I need main character energy, ya know?

This was a cute read but in a way, unmemorable. I loved the bookshop portions and Mugwort, the cat, but there were a few too many characters. I found it difficult to keep everyone’s story straight and did not connect with any specific character. Not my favorite Jenny Bayliss, but I will continue to read anything written by her! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this e-ARC for my honest review.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss is not your typical holiday romance. What we get is a bit of big city life, going back home, a big wedding, class divides, gardening, fighting for what's right and lots of emotional up and downs. Reads a lot more like fiction but the romance is a lovely slow build that I was routing for the whole time. Really enjoyed reading this not at Christmas. Can't wait for Bayliss' next book.

While the idea of this contemporary romance was really intriguing, the plot focused more on the friendships as opposed to the relationship. When you're looking for a holiday romance, this comes off a little disappointing. Their relationship wasn't the focus until the last quarter, but even then the instalove wasn't very convincing or even one that I was particularly rooting for.

I wish we had more focus on their relationship in the first half, or at least before the very end.

Loved this book! Jenny Bayliss will be an instant buy going forward. I have already purchased copies of Meet Me under the Mistletoe for my book club members for December 2023.